Shaping the future of hospitality: RIT Croatia’s HTM seniors present final projects

On Saturday, May 3, 2025, graduating students from RIT Croatia’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program gathered at the renowned Hotel Palace in Dubrovnik to present their capstone research projects.

This event marked the conclusion of the Senior Project course, a cornerstone of the program led by instructor Rebecca Charry. Students engaged in rigorous research throughout the semester, sharpening their critical thinking and analytical abilities. Their final projects featured in-depth literature reviews, original findings, and thoughtful conclusions on various relevant industry topics.

Presentation topics ranged from the relationship between emotional intelligence and customer orientation, virtual and augmented reality applications in hotels, to job-related gossip as informal feedback in the hospitality industry. The diversity and quality of the projects reflected the students’ commitment and intellectual engagement with the evolving landscape of hospitality and tourism.

Notable topics included:

• The Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Customer Orientation among Front Line Hospitality Employees, Jana Krstić (mentored by Dr. Besim Agušaj)
• Souvenir Authenticity: Understanding how high-end guests shop for unique memories, Rozalija Francesković (mentored by Dr. Besim Agušaj)
• Equestrian Services as an Extension of Luxury Offerings: The case of MV Ranch, Irina Raičković (mentored by Dr. Besim Agušaj)
• Hospitality Meets Reality: Local Attitudes towards Immigrants in the Western Balkans, Anja Savinović (mentored by Dr. Besim Agušaj)
• First Impressions and Lasting Memories: The Receptionist's Role in Shaping Hotel Experience, Ina Dizdarić (mentored by Milena Kužnin)
• Preserving Split’s Heritage: A Sustainable Tourism Agenda, Lucia Rogošić (mentored by Milena Kužnin)
• Poreč and the Luxury Tourism Market: A Path towards a Five-Star Destination, Sophie Noa Živković (mentored by Milena Kužnin)
• Banja Luka’s Journey from a Hidden Gem to a Strong Brand: Destination branding and Placemaking, Milica Kos (mentored by Milena Kužnin)    
• Workplace Whispers: Job-Related Gossip as Informal Feedback in the Hospitality Industry, Noa Beusan (mentored by Rebecca Charry)
• The Role of Croatia Airlines' In-Flight Magazine in Croatia's Destination Branding, Elena Dugandžić (mentored by Rebecca Charry)        
• Not informed or just not interested? A Study of Individual Investment Behavior in Croatia’s Stock Market, Ana Vujović (mentored by Kevin Walker)
• Montenegro’s Entrepreneurial Environment: Connecting Structural Support with Personal Perspectives, Tijana Matović (mentored by Kevin Walker)
• Customer Attitudes towards Black Friday Hotel Promotions, Aurora Perić (mentored by Kevin Walker)
• Virtual and Augmented Reality Applications in Hotels, Patrik Vrljić (mentored by Kevin Walker)
• AI Service Robots in F&B: Customer and employee perspectives, Jozef Plumaj (mentored by Dr. Vanda Bazdan)
• Foreign Language Learning for Hospitality Careers: Grammar lessons or YouTube, Anamarija Senjanin (mentored by Barbara Perić)
• Diversity of Menu Offer in Kotor Gastronomy, Ana Marija Grgurević (mentored by Zrinka Friganović Sain)
• Potential Benefits of Organized Film-Induced Tourism in Croatia, Patrik Perković (mentored by Dr. Francis Brassard)

As the presentations concluded, Rebecca Charry expressed her pride in the students' achievements, stating, "I am so proud and grateful for the opportunity to teach such an intelligent and hardworking group of students, and to learn from them as well."

The event showcased the students' academic prowess and underscored their potential contributions to the future of the hospitality and tourism industry in Croatia and beyond.